Free Agent Focus: Nashville Predators
The 2015-2016 Nashville Predators advanced to the 2nd round of the NHL playoffs for only the third time in franchise history before losing to the San Jose Sharks in seven games. Nashville comes into this offseason with ample cap room and only one major expiring contract.
Cap Space: $11,511,190 (according to CapFriendly)
Key UFAs: F Paul Gaustad and G Carter Hutton. Gaustad’s tenure on the Predators has been relatively quiet. The 34 year old center has failed to crack 20 points in his last two seasons, but excelled in the faceoff circle. His 55.3% face-off percentage was good for 18th in the league. Carter Hutton served as Pekke Rinne’s backup last season, going 7-5 with a .918 SV% and a 2.33 GAA. As we reported earlier, however, Nashville signed G Marek Mazanec to a two year deal. GM David Poile indicated that the move may have left Hutton as the odd man out.
Key RFAs: F Filip Forsberg. Forsberg led all Predators forwards this season with 33G and 64P. The former 1st round draft pick was traded to Nashville by the Washington Capitals for Martin Erat, who themselves acquired the pick from Colorado for Semyon Varlamov. Forsberg is coming off an entry-level deal, and the Predators are in talks with his camp to sign him to a long term extension.
Other RFAs: F Calle Jarnkrok, F Gabriel Bourque, D Petter Granberg.
Snapshots: Predators, Smid, Coaching Updates, Gillis
Nashville GM David Poile provided updates on some of his players in an interview with Brooks Bratton on the team’s website on Monday.
On pending restricted free agents Filip Forsberg and Calle Jarnkrok:
“We’ve had a couple of conversations with each of their agents, but as I always say, this is a process. I don’t look for these to be getting done tomorrow, but we’re moving ahead.”
He also noted that he is attempting to trade Eric Nystrom and that he wouldn’t rule out buying out the final year of his contract if he can’t find a trade partner. Nystrom is set to earn $3MM in salary with a $2.5MM cap hit for 2016-17. A buyout would trigger a $500,000 cap hit in 2016-17 and a $1MM charge in 2017-18.
Poile added that he will begin to send qualifying offers to his restricted free agents starting next week. Aside from Forsberg and Jarnkrok, the Preds have seven other RFA’s between their NHL and AHL teams.
Elsewhere around the league:
- Ladislav Smid’s future remains uncertain as he continues to recover from a season-ending neck injury sustained back in February, writes Darren Haynes on his From 80 Feet Above blog. His neck issues stem back to his first neck surgery six years ago. The continuing issues will prevent him from being a candidate for a buyout as the CBA does not permit injured players to be bought out.
- Tampa Bay assistant coach Rick Bowness has agreed to a multi-year extension with the Lightning, the team announced. He was reportedly a contender for the Anaheim coaching job which instead went to Randy Carlyle.
- The Blue Jackets have offered former St. Louis assistant coach Brad Shaw a contract to join them in a similar role according to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch.
- ESPN’s John Buccigross reports that Kevin Dineen is “getting a late look” for Calgary’s head coaching job. He also adds that Glen Gulutzan and Todd Reirden are other finalists.
- Former Vancouver GM and player agent Mike Gillis has accepted a job on the board of directors for Swiss club Geneve-Servette HC, the team announced. Gillis’ Assistant GM in Vancouver, Lorne Henning, is also joining him in this new role.
Snapshots: Strader, Hutton, Alfredsson, Cullen, Coaching Vacancies
Some sad news out of Dallas today as the team announced that their play-by-play announcer, Dave Strader, has been diagnosed with cancer. Strader just completed his first season as the voice of the Stars and has been in play-by-play booths for the last 36 years. Everyone at PHR sends their best wishes to Dave and his family through this difficult time.
Other news and notes from around the NHL:
- The re-signing of goalie Marek Mazanec in Nashville earlier today brings forth some doubt as to Carter Hutton’s future with the team. GM David Poile confirmed the two sides are in talks on a new contract but that he feels that “Going to another team will give him a better opportunity to get more games and to probably extend his career” and that “It’s not over yet, but I would say that is probably the way that Carter is leaning”. Hutton has spent the last three years with the Preds, posting a 33-23-12 record in 75 games with a 2.55 GAA and a .910 SV% and will be an unrestricted free agent July 1st.
- Former NHLer Daniel Alfredsson has signed a one year extension to stay on as Ottawa’s Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations, a role he first began in this past season. Alfredsson is the Senators’ All-Time scoring leader, collecting 1,108 points over 17 seasons with the team.
- Pittsburgh center Matt Cullen has yet to decide on his playing future. The 39 year old is an unrestricted free agent on July 1st and played with a broken toe since Game 2 of the Conference Finals. Cullen was the fifth oldest NHLer to suit up in a game this past season.
- It appears that one of the two remaining head coaching vacancies is close to being filled as Calgary GM Brad Treliving said in a radio interview this morning that their search would be “coming to a conclusion very quickly”.
- Following Lake Erie’s AHL title, Columbus will now look to fill their replacement for former Associate Coach Craig Hartsburg. Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch reports that Lake Erie coach Jared Bednar, as well as Darryl Sydor and Brad Shaw, are likely to be interviewed for that position.
Minor NHL Transactions: 6/13/16
Some free agent signings to report around the NHL:
- The Montreal Canadiens have re-signed defenseman Mark Barberio to a 2-year deal worth $1.5MM. The 26-year-old spent last season with the Canadiens before a concussion ended his season in March. Barberio had two goals and ten points in 30 games last season.
- The Nashville Predators inked G Marek Mazanec to a one-year, $575,000 deal according to a team report. The 24-year-old netminder was signed to a two-way contract and spent the 2015-2016 season playing for the Milwaukee Admirals, Nashville’s AHL affiliate.
- The Carolina Hurricanes agreed to a 3-year deal with 18-year-old forward Sebastian Aho. The cap hit is $925,000. Aho was a second round pick for the Hurricanes in the 2015 draft and spent last season in the Finnish league Liiga where he registered 45 points in as many games. Aho will also play for Team Finland in the World Cup of Hockey. They also inked 19-year-old forward Aleksi Saarela to a two year, entry level deal. Saarela was acquired as part of the Eric Staal deal prior to the trade deadline.
- The Calgary Flames signed G David Rittich to a one-year, $925,000 deal. A team report stated that the 23-year-old Czech netminder agreed to a two-way contract. Rittich spent last season with BK Mlada Boleslav of the Czech Extraliga.